Suppressed increase in blood endothelial progenitor cell content as result of single exhaustive exercise bout in male revascularised coronary artery disease patients

Acta Clin Belg. 2012 Jul-Aug;67(4):262-9. doi: 10.2143/ACB.67.4.2062670.

Abstract

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) significantly affect endothelial repair capacity and, hence, cardiovascular disease incidence. In healthy subjects, blood EPC content increases significantly as result of a single maximal exercise test, hereby stimulating endothelial repair capacity. It remains to be shown whether a single exercise positively affects blood EPCs in revascularised coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. From male revascularised CAD patients (n = 60) and healthy volunteers (n = 25) blood samples were collected before and immediately after a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test. Blood samples were analyzed by optimised flow cytometry methodology for EPC content (CD34+, CD34+ CD133+, CD34+VEGFR2+, CD34+CD133+VEGFR2+, and CD34+CD133-VEGFR2+ cells) and compared between groups. CFU-Hill colonies were additionally assessed. As a result of a maximal exercise test, blood CD34+, CD34+VEGFR2+ (all EPCs), CD34+CD133+, and CD34+ CD133-VEGFR2+ (mature EPCs) cells increased significantly in CAD patients (p < 0.05), but less than in healthy subjects (p < 0.05, and p = 0.06 for CD34+VEGFR2+). CD34+CD133+VEGFR2+ cells (immature EPCs) did not change as result of exercise (p > 0.05). No changes in CFU-Hill colonies as result of exercise were observed. This study shows that blood mature EPCs (CD34+CD133-VEGFR2+) increase significantly as result of a single exercise bout in revascularised CAD patients, but with smaller magnitude compared to healthy subjects. Blood immature EPCs (CD34+CD133+VEGFR2+) did not change significantly as result of exercise.

MeSH terms

  • Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary*
  • Antigens, CD / blood
  • Coronary Artery Bypass*
  • Coronary Artery Disease / blood
  • Coronary Artery Disease / therapy*
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology*
  • Exercise*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Stem Cells / cytology*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD